LIVERPOOL have completed the shock £1.6million transfer of Preston’s Ben Davies to fill their centre-back void.
Championship star Davies, 25, was all set to move to Celtic but Liverpool have swept in.
Ben Davies has completed his shock move to champions LiverpoolCredit: PA:Press Association
It appeared just a matter of whether Celtic signed him now or in the summer, when his North End contract was due to expire.
But the Hoops were blown out the water at the 11th hour with Jurgen Klopp showing some surprise interest late in the window.
Preston accepted a £500,000 fee plus add-ons, rising to around £1.6m, for Davies.
Davies told Liverpoolfc.com: “I’m obviously delighted to be here. It’s a huge opportunity.
“Obviously it came as a bit of a surprise when it first came (out) but once you start to get your head around it, the opportunity that is in front of me is incredible.
“I’d be silly to not make the most of it and learn off the players (at the club).”
The Reds have been without Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez for most of the campaign due to potentially season-ending injuries.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
How Virgil van Dijk compares to the rest of the PL’s defenders
And with the club announcing on deadline day that Joel Matip has been sidelined for the rest of the campaign too with an ankle injury, Klopp has had to move quickly to find cover.
It has led them to opt for a cut-price option of Davies, who was on loan at Liverpool’s lower-league neighbours Tranmere earlier in his career.
The 6ft 1in ace came through the ranks at Preston and has made just shy of 150 appearances for the club to date.
Davies has played 19 games this season with Preston currently 11th in the Championship.
⚽ Read our DEADLINE DAY BLOG for the very latest transfer news
He is expected to provide cover at the back for the champions, who also signed Schalke defender Ozan Kabak on loan on deadline day.
Liverpool have revived their title hopes, despite their injury woes at the back, with back-to-back wins at Tottenham and West Ham.
And Klopp has decided the club need to strengthen their defensive options with a huge clash against leaders Manchester City looming next Sunday.
Rio Ferdinand bets Peter Crouch that Man Utd will finish above Liverpool in Premier League
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
